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NFL News | March 28, 2010
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New NFL Overtime Rule Meets Opposition
By Judy Batista
March 28, 2010
Orlando, FL — Coaches grumbled that a new rule had been forced on them, and even a few owners seemed a little stunned at how rapidly things had moved. But the N.F.L.’s new overtime rules for the postseason — and the momentum to change overtime in the regular season — were the result of Commissioner Roger Goodell’s legislative skills.
New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton was the most vocal about his displeasure with Tuesday’s vote to change overtime rules in the postseason, but he reflected the frustration of several coaches who said they felt owners rushed to approve the change while coaches and general managers were away from the proceedings.
They were right. The Giants owner John Mara, a member of the competition committee, said Goodell used a move perfected by the former commissioner Pete Rozelle — as soon as you think you have the votes, take the vote. Mara, a supporter of the new rule, credited Goodell with coalescing support for it.
Throughout meetings that began Sunday night, Goodell mentioned overtime repeatedly, Mara said. Members of the competition committee brought out statistics to sway voters, but it was Goodell who essentially wore owners down with his support for the measure. Just before meetings broke for lunch Tuesday, he told executives they might want to meet with their football people at lunch, because there would be more overtime talk in the afternoon. When it was apparent in the afternoon session that Goodell had at least 24 votes, he announced a vote would be taken.
Owners may have been pleased by Goodell’s wrangling ability, but that did not make coaches feel any better.
“That kind of got slipped in the back door,” Payton said Wednesday at a breakfast for coaches at the N.F.L. meetings. “That’s a taste you have in your mouth that is bitter. I’m against it. I hate the policy.”
Payton had just finished lunch with Arnold Palmer when he learned that a vote had been taken. Many other coaches were at an annual golf outing when the measure was passed. Vikings Coach Brad Childress said he and several others were on the course when they began receiving e-mail and text messages about the vote. Childress questioned the transparency of the proceedings.
Payton said: “It’s always interesting, typically there’s been a good process. There’s a Wednesday vote, there’s a Tuesday discussion, there’s a Monday informational.”
He continued: “It was a little surprising to everyone. The system we have with the number of votes required is healthy. It just caught a lot of people off guard, which tells me there was not a lot of confidence it would get done if it had been done in the normal itinerary. That’s interesting.”
Under the new rule, which takes effect this postseason, if the team that wins the coin toss produces a field goal, rather than a touchdown, the overtime will continue with the other team getting a possession. If the game remains tied after the opponent’s series, the previous sudden-death rule comes into play. If the team with the first possession in overtime scores a touchdown on its opening drive, the game is over, as was the case previously.
Coaches and general managers do not vote on rules changes, but several clearly hoped to have another night to influence their owners. Payton and Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis were against the measure. The team owner, Tom Benson, was wavering when Payton left for his lunch. By the time he was done, Benson had been swayed by Goodell. The modified sudden-death rule was passed by a 28-4 vote.
Tennessee Coach Jeff Fisher, who straddles the two sides as a member of the competition committee, said the overtime proposal was reviewed with coaches on Sunday and Monday, giving them plenty of opportunity to voice their opposition. Goodell said everyone was briefed.
“It’s probably no secret there are certain owners who may have different views than their coaches,” Goodell said. “This may not come as a news flash, but owners have the vote.”
Coaches better study the nuances of the new rule, because the real surprise for Mara was how much sentiment there was among owners for overtime reform in the regular season, too.
When overtime change was discussed with members of the players union at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, it was discussed only as a postseason measure. That would mitigate concerns about adding too many plays to the regular season. That is very likely why owners held off on changing overtime for the regular season. They want to go back to the players to discuss it, and they could take it up again at their May meetings.
The union has maintained that overtime should be collectively bargained. Goodell said Wednesday that the league’s obligation to players was to seek their input.
Several coaches said they would prefer a change in regular-season overtime as well. The reason is that coaches will spend time in the off-season and training camp reviewing how to handle the postseason overtime, but will not have an opportunity to use their strategies in the regular seaso. So months will pass before a coach has to make an overtime decision in a playoff game, with no chance for an earlier test.
Goodell said the different strategy required in overtime would be “fun for fans.”
“That’s part of our job to keep innovating and making the game more exciting,” he said.
Falcons Coach Mike Smith said: “There will be certain little nuances that are different than in a regular game. I would prefer the OT rule be the same. There will be a learning curve.”
EXTRA POINTS
The N.F.L. is so intent on preventing teams from resting their starters in late-season games that it plans to schedule only division games in Week 17, Commissioner Roger Goodell said. And Week 16 could be largely division games. This may not stop teams that have already secured a playoff position from resting their starters, but it may keep the games interesting for fans. ... John Mara said he received “pretty positive” feedback about New York winning the competition for the 2014 Super Bowl. Owners will vote in Dallas in late May. The Giants and the Jets are competing against South Florida and Tampa to play host. The New York bid is seen as the front-runner. ... Owners approved several rules changes, including an expansion of the defenseless-receiver rule. It will cover players who have taken a few steps after catching a ball, but who have not gotten into position to protect themselves. ... The N.F.L. and the N.F.L. Alumni Association announced a new neurological care program for retired players Wednesday. Neurological specialists at five medical centers across the country will be made available to evaluate and treat conditions. Players who cannot afford treatment will be able to apply for a grant from the N.F.L. Player Care Foundation to cover costs.
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